HB241 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Holmes

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Charlotte MeadowsChris SellsGinny ShaverAndrew Sorrell

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

State Health Officer, order issued in response to outbreak of a disease has full force of law if approved by Governor and filed with Secretary of State in state of emergency, Secs. 22-2-8, 31-9-8, 31-9-13 am'd.

Summary

HB241 would cut the state of emergency to 14 days, require legislative action to extend it, make disease-related orders by the State Health Officer effective after governor approval and filing, and add notice and special-session provisions tied to emergencies.

What This Bill Does

It shortens the emergency period to 14 days and requires joint action by the Legislature to extend it, or, when the Legislature is not in session, joint proclamation by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. It makes outbreak-related orders from the State Health Officer have the full force of law once approved by the Governor and filed with the Secretary of State. It requires the Governor to give a copy of any directive that suspends a law to the President Pro Tempore and the Speaker at least 48 hours before it can take effect, with exceptions for imminent threats. It also allows the President Pro Tempore to request a special legislative session during a state of emergency, expanding who can call for one.

Who It Affects

• General Alabama residents, whose public health experiences, restrictions, and emergency protections could change based on shorter emergency periods and the way health orders are enacted and enforced.
• State government and officials (Governor, President Pro Tempore, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, Senate and House leadership, State Health Officer, and Secretary of State), who gain new roles in approving, filing, notifying about, and potentially extending emergency orders and in calling special sessions.

Key Provisions

• State of emergency duration reduced to 14 days; extensions may be granted only by joint resolution of the Legislature or, if the Legislature is not in session, by joint proclamation from the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House.
• An order or directive issued by the State Health Officer to control, prevent, or minimize an outbreak becomes the full force of law after the Governor approves it and a copy is filed with the Secretary of State.
• The Governor must provide a copy of any directive that suspends a law to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House at least 48 hours before it may take effect, with exceptions if delaying the directive would cause an imminent threat to human life.
• The President Pro Tempore may request in writing that the Governor call the Legislature into special session during a state of emergency (in addition to existing ability of other leaders).

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

State Health Officer